The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $410K. Net investment income was $1.3M.
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation at a glance
In short: The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation gave $410K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $82K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $410,000
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -61.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $82,000
- +140.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $1,010,966
- +1276.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Canine Companions ($200K across 2 grants). Together the top 3 received $410K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 55 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation gives
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 173% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $140K (2023) to $443K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $410K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Canine Companions Santa Rosa, CA | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Canine Companions Santa Rosa, CA | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| St Jude Children's Hospital Memphis, TN | Unresreicted | $100,000 |
| St Jude Children's Hospital Memphis, TN | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| SPCA LA Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,010,966 | $1,350,478 | $412,970 | $410,000 | 5 | $410,000 | $1,319,326 | $236,884 |
| 2024 | $73,458 | $18,692 | $444,992 | $443,350 | 13 | $443,350 | $5,742 | $219,153 |
| 2023 | $499,758 | $16,119 | $140,000 | $140,000 | 8 | $140,000 | $2,949 | $178,844 |
| 2022 | $623,639 | $82,046 | $299,305 | $286,500 | 16 | $286,500 | $70,919 | $153,584 |
| 2021 | $840,898 | $473,229 | $368,391 | $366,000 | 13 | $366,000 | $460,203 | $166,149 |
| 2020 | $736,060 | $38,896 | $185,218 | $178,100 | 9 | — | $25,994 | $132,610 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $237K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation is led by Shirley Mc Kernan, President on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shirley Mc Kernan
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation
How much does The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation give each year?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation gave $410K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $443K across 13 grants.
What is The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $82,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation give grants?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (49%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Rosa, CA (2 grants) and Memphis, TN (2 grants).
Does The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Canine Companions ($200,000 across 2 grants), St Jude Children's Hospital ($200,000 across 2 grants) and SPCA LA ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $410K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $237K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's EIN?
The Shirley McKernan Courage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1567317. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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